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Zeal Records: 15 Years The Essence Of Music

This year, the Belgian indie label Zeal Records is fifteen years old. On this occasion, the label released a compilation that perfectly shows what it stands for today: quality!

The overview begins with a beautiful, fragile piece of Illuminine: the almost neo-classical ambient project of Kevin Imbrechts who shows that post-rock is not dead yet.

New on the label is Eyemèr, the solo project in which Rock Rally-finalist Sarah Devreese juggles with lo-fi. Think Echo Beatty.

Of course a compilation may include a hit, not? Perhaps Isbells is one of the most famous bands on Zeal Records, and Billy a well deserved big radio hit.

On paper, Astronaute is the lo-fi project of Myrthe Luyten, but the troubadour is assisted by so many great names from the Flemish alternative scene (from Isbells to Marble Sounds) that this is almost a supergroup. Talking about Marble Sounds! Its fairytale pop must be included, of course, in this case the title track of the impressive new album The Ins And Outs.

Actually Zeal is a small family, because the Limburg-based Mad About Mountains consists of founder Piet De Pessemier, but also Myrthe Luyten of Astronaute. The music? Well, quality country rock that refers to Neil Young!

The diversity of the label is shown with Rhinos Are People Too: delicious shoegaze from Limburg. References? The Raveonettes with the sound of My Bloody Valentine. Something like that, but foremost sublime!

A compilation is also handy to discover some new talent. We bet you’ll fall in love with the magical indie folk-pop of the West Flanders Renée!

This Belgian label is also the home of the New York-based Timesbold that plays wonderful Americana. The Ghent-act Tomàn is present with The Wonder Of The Tortoise Tunnel: experimental post-rock, but the kind you have not heard too often.

The melodic indie noise of Sunday Bell Ringers was always hard to describe, but the new single Page Turner make us hungry for more. The name of the Leuven-based Sweet Little Mojo reveals it all: this is rock with (well) a lot of mojo!

Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat always was hard to describe. Is The Shadows Are You new wave or not? Is it important when something just sounds fantastic?

Cape Coast Radio is a band from Ghent, but it evokes the feel of tropical palm trees. Swinging indie pop!

Low Vertical is one of the more famous bands on Zeal, its ingenious indietronica already has conquered several musical hearts, and also ours with Sun Sun.

The noisiest track on 15 Years The Essence Of Music undoubtedly is the one by Future Old People Are Wizards. And of course the noise makers of Raketkanon are loud too!